Мастера

Grandmaster Samuel Bambit Dulay (english version)

Grandmaster Samuel Bambit Dulay started training in Filipino Martial Arts in Dumog and Judo in 1968-69 under Roming Yanson and the Lisondra Brothers (both students of Grandmaster Remy Presas) at the Univerisity of Negros Occidental and West Negros College. He learned the Baston (basic Arnis) in 1972 while studying karate jujitsu under Romy Lisondra. For the first time in 1974, he witnessed a bladed weapon demonstration between Master Roberto Presas and Master Cris Vasquez, which inspired him to seek an Arnis Instructor.

Lineage of teachers and styles:

1975, Old Maestro Juan Lawaan (age of 72) who also served as his inspiration: Decuerdas Lapu-Lapu style

Major International Seminars:The 2nd Filipino Martial Arts Festival in Dortmund Germany in 2004Modern Arnis Seminars in Dortmund, Essen and Kassel, Germany in 2004Exhibition choreography: the South East Asian Games 2003, the 8th Asean Kyokushin kai Tournament, and the 9th ASEAN Wrestling Championship.

Current affiliation:External Vice President and Chairman of the Committe on Membership and Affiliation, International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines (IMAFP).

Interview Master Samuel “Bambit” Dulay.

Breaking Barriers through Arnis

An Arnis instructor since the seventies, Master Samuel “Bambit” Dulay admits he still has to work on some teaching skills.“Sometimes it is hard to articulate instructions to my students,” he smiles.But when he demonstrates Arnis techniques with fluid and agile movements that are as swift as lightning, words are no longer necessary.Students—be they Filipino, German, Japanese, or American—immediately understand the message he’s trying to say.

Indeed, Master Bambit, who’s known for his “quick as lightning, cat-like” moves in Arnis circles, is breaking cultural barriers through Arnis, and is the martial art’s ambassador to the world.

The beginning of a lifelong fascination

Master Bambit’s lifelong fascination with Arnis goes back to his grade school years at the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos during the late sixties. He was then studying karate jujitsu under Romy Lisondra. Lisondra in turn, was a student of Grand Master Remy Presas, acknowledged as the Father of Modern Arnis.A bladed weapon demonstration between Master Roberto Presas and Master Cris Vazquez in 1974 convinced this martial arts enthusiast as to how effective Arnis was in combat.With the other Oriental martial arts, students are trained to fight one-on-one,” Master Bambit observes. “But Arnis trains you to fight multiple attackers.” “The movements of Arnis are circular. It hones your peripheral vision and lets you see opponents from all sides…it’s mainly focused on quick reflexes and speed,” he further notes. “And because Arnis has no rigid set of habit-forming rules, students are free to innovate.” Soon, Master Bambit formally trained under Grand Master Presas himself, who was not only an Arnis Instructor, but a life mentor as well. “Grand Master Remy not only taught me Arnis techniques. He also guided me as to how I could live my life the best way possible,” he smiles. Years of perseverance and practice has paid of. Today, Master Bambit holds a 9th degree black belt from the Masters of Modern Arnis Clan and a 6th degree black belt from the International Modern Arnis Federation.

The successor to the art of Tapi-Tapi

Impressed by his dedication, Grand Master Presas appointed him as the successor to the art of Tapi-Tapi, which means “counter for counter.” Tapi-Tapi is considered as the heart of Modern Arnis. The principle behind Tapi-Tapi could be likened to that of chess: That no matter what the opponent does, one must be prepared with an intelligent counter move. “Classical Arnis techniques are very rigid and by the book. But while the Tapi-Tapi incorporates classical theories from the Palis, Abaniko, and Krusada systems, it remains free-flowing and adaptable to suit different fighting styles,” Master Bambit elaborates. A demanding technique, Tapi-Tapi creates an intense physical and mental struggle, with the practitioner doing everything he can to outwit and outlast his opponent.

Arnis: A living legacy of the Philippines to the world

Master Bambit continues to train Arnis aficionados all over the world, reaching places such as the US, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and Australia. And if foreigners have taken a serious interest in Arnis, Master Bambit’s long-term vision is to make Arnis as popular in the land of its origin. As Chief Instructor of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) Master Bambit is keeping the Arnis tradition alive in the country. He has served as consultant for the First Filipino Martial Arts Festival in May 2006, the First Remy Presas Memorial Camp, and the Third World Filipino Martial Arts Festival in July 2006. According to Master Bambit, Arnis is a holistic martial art. Not only does it have physical fitness and self defense aspects, it has a character building aspect as well. “Arnis imparts to students revered Filipino values such as respect for elders, which is shown through pagmamano and saying po and opo (gestures of respect). Arnis also teaches humility, obedience, patience, and discipline. One gradually observes the change in character of an Arnis student,” he explains.

More importantly, Master Bambit says Arnis is a proudly Filipino martial art, at par with the world’s best. “Arnis is a way instilling pride in our cultural heritage,” Master Bambit says with much fervor. “By teaching Arnis, we hope to bring back the Filipinos’ confidence shaken by colonial rule. We are warriors at heart, after all. We fight for a just cause.

Through Arnis, Master Bambit is set to prove that Filipinos can take their rightful place in the global arena.